Ted Hutchson joins Medina board 7.8.09

Medina Township has a full board again following the appointment of Ted Hutchison.

Board members met Monday and appointed Hutchison to fill the remainder of the term of the late George Cleghorn. Hutchison will serve through November 2012.

John Van Havel, Jr., was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Township clerk Suzy Burk said those were the only two residents who expressed an interest in filling the vacancies.

The board voted to accept Morenci city council’s offer to continue fire protection service on a month-by-month basis. The contract with Morenci Fire Department expired June 30 and council members met that day to come up with a plan for continued service.

Medina will pay one month at a time, Burk said, while waiting for a response from the Hudson Fire Department. Medina is asking Hudson to extend its coverage to about one-half of the township.

A dispute with Morenci continues over the 10 percent increase in fire service costs requested. Township supervisor Jim Craig said previously that he will ask Hudson to cover the entire township for fire and rescue service if Morenci is unwilling to negotiate the contract cost.

Morenci council member Keith Pennington told township trustees Monday that he would not be willing to work out a separate deal with Medina after contracts were already established with the two other townships. He pointed out that he was speaking only for himself and not as a representative for the other council members.